Despite the impressive performance of many African economies, the benefits are yet to reach all its citizens, the UN said yesterday. This was said by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon, to mark the Africa Day, which falls today – May 25. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was later renamed the African Union (AU).“Africa is a dynamic continent undergoing fundamental transformation. Even during the world economic crisis, Africa’s economies continued to expand, and growth forecasts remain positive. However, the benefits are not reaching all Africans,” he said.The day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the people and governments of Africa and to reaffirm the support of the United Nations for their efforts to build a bright future.“Poverty, hunger, and disparities in health, education, and participation in society, are preventing hundreds of millions of Africans from fully realising their potential. Greater effort is needed by all to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015,” the UN chief said.“I have personally seen the dividends of investing in women’s and children’s health and sustainable agriculture. I have spent many hours with African leaders who are committed to peace, human rights, democracy and good governance”.The United Nations commended Africa’s recent efforts to consolidate its peace and security architecture, and to reject unconstitutional changes of power.“We will continue to work with Africa in building durable peace, ending armed conflicts, boosting democracy, and promoting respect for fundamental human rights, especially the rights of women and youth,” Ban added.He noted that the growing number of success stories across Africa indicates that broader socio-economic progress is realistically attainable for most Africans. He, particularly, urged countries to address the spectre of hunger which, he said, manifests itself from periodic food emergencies to the “hidden disgrace of stunting that is affecting a new generation of African children”.Putin’s message Meanwhile, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in a statement sent to The New Time,s congratulated the African Heads of State and Government on the occasion “This remarkable day symbolizes the victory of African peoples in the struggle for freedom and independence,” he said.“Russia highly appreciates positive development of political and socio-economic life of African states, their growing role in the global agenda issues and in construction of a fair world order”.He reiterated his country’s support for the active steps of the African Union, ECOWAS and other multilateral unions in settlement of crises, strengthening of inter-African dialogue, creation of African own peacekeeping potential, and implementation of timely reforms.
